Control aggression: Walsh

Mumbai: Pace legend Courtney Walsh has called for “controlled aggression”, referring to the on-field spat between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc during an IPL VII game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

“I was travelling and saw it on YouTube, so I can’t say exactly the whole build up of it. It didn’t look a pretty sight when you saw it, but in the heat of the moment, these things sometimes do happen. For me it is how it ends… If both players accept their responsibility in terms of what happened,” Walsh said during a promotional.

“That is not what you want to see on the field of play and that is not what you want the youngsters to watch. Hopefully, things have been sorted out and whatever action needs to be taken has been taken and we can return to normalcy,” he added.

“You are going to have words said from time to time, I have nothing against it. I think controlled aggression is what everybody wants to see,” said Walsh, who took 519 wickets in his 132-Test international career.

“You don’t want it to get ugly where you have the fans looking on. I have nothing against things being said, but everything should be controlled and not get too personal.”

Walsh had shown great sportsmanship during a 1987 World Cup match where he didn’t run Pakistan No. 11 batsman Salim Jaffer out, who had backed up at non-striker’s end. West Indies lost that match.

Recollecting the incident, Walsh said: “That was the way I was brought up to play my cricket in the spirit of the game and I would not change that.”

Asked if it is good to have separate captains for all three formats of the game, the Jamaican said: “My personal view is something different. I probably would have had the same person captaining in T20s and ODIs and probably someone else for Tests.

Walsh also feels that India can solve the problem of young pacers breaking down soon after bursting onto the scene if they maintain a higher level of fitness.

“Couple of years ago, you had some young fast bowlers who burst onto the scene and within a year after that, the injuries started creeping in. (Umesh) Yadav looked promising… But after a series or two, they started getting injured. These guys have to get fit and strong.”

“I personally feel that they are not fully prepared for the work load. A lot of cricket is being played and as a fast bowler, you have to work twice as hard as some of the batsmen would. I don’t think some of fast bowlers realise how important it is and by the time they realise, they have already picked up an injury or two.”